http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15880045

Orangutans ask Santa for Ipads…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16354093

On expanding the uses and benefits of therapy pets

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-your-healthcare/treatment/articles/2011/12/27/the-new-face-of-pet-therapy

Scientists poised to cure leukemia in mice

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/12/penn_state_university_research.html

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/fda-repeats-warning-on-chicken-jerky-for-dogs/

I recommend discontinuing feeding any chicken jerky made in China, and watch dogs carefully for signs of kidney issues, especially increased thirst and urination, vomiting, or any other signs of illness. In general, it’s best to avoid treats from China and stick to those made in the USA.

Turkey- some turkey treats are eagerly received by both dogs and cats, but remember to lock away trash, as the cooked turkey (and chicken) bones can splinter when eaten.

Chocolate- hide away the candy, cake, and treats.  Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats. While a small amount is not likely to be harmful, it’s always best to call the vet if you think your dog or cat has gotten into chocolate.  Baker’s chocolate is especially toxic.

Tinsel- Tinsel is fun to hang and sparkle, and unfortunately it’s also fun for our cats to play with and sometimes swallow. Any long, string-like decorations like ribbon, yarn, and tinsel can get stuck in the intestine and cause severe disease.  Kittens are especially prone to eating these things, so be sure to cat-proof your holiday cheer.

Poinsettas- these are poisonous when eaten, so these should be avoided in homes with pets or at least placed well out of reach.

If you are planning on boarding your pet at a kennel for holiday travels, be sure to check the vaccination records and find out what the kennel requires for boarding, so there is no last minute panic before traveling.  When choosing a kennel, check reviews online, and ask for a walk-through the kennel areas before making a reservation.  And be sure to reserve well in advance, as all the good kennels fill up quickly.  If you are having a pet sitter visit your home, be sure to leave emergency numbers and pictures of your pets for the sitter to use to find them just in case.

Winter months can be hard on senior pets. Arthritis flares up, and the icy walkways can be hazardous for older (and even young) dogs.  Throwing down some sand or gravel can help prevent a lot of injuries.  And consider a nice orthopedic bed for  a holiday gift for your older dog.  Cats also love cozy beds, especially when placed in a sunny window.

And speaking of cats who eat strings: check out some of these x-rays!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054734/X-ray-contest-Worlds-wackiest-animal-X-Rays-reveal-things-pets-swallow.html

FDA Now testing pet food for salmonella

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-fda-starts-testing-pet-food-for-salmonella-20111101,0,5348276.story

The moral code of animals?

http://www.livescience.com/16814-animals-wrong-clues-point.html

Easy exercises for fat cats!

http://www.wdam.com/story/15893612/exercises-for-your-overweight-cat

Study in rats shows potential link between antidepressant use during pregnancy and autism

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/24/prenatal-exposure-to-antidepressants-makes-rats-act-autistic/

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/my-puppy-my-self/201108/the-human-canine-bond-can-play-cure-ptsd-in-dogs

Horses help veterans with PTSD

http://www.examiner.com/animal-advocacy-in-arlington/caisson-platoon-equine-assisted-therapy-aids-wounded-warriors

Using monkeys to test advertising campaigns.  Is consumerism in our DNA?

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/08/01/ad_for_monkeys_seeks_to_plumb_roots_of_human_behavior/?rss_id=Boston.com+–+Science+news

Diabetic Alert Dogs:  A new lease on life for unwanted dogs!

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/08/canines-trained-help-people-diabetes

New twist on the Downward Facing Dog?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/us-fitness-yoga-dogs-idUSTRE7701US20110801

By Lisa Cass DVM

So you just came home to find your pooch has been counter-surfing and decided to snack on your MMJ edibles. What’s the best course of action?  Just dim the lights and put on some Allman Brothers?  It won’t really help your dog but it might make you feel better while you call the vet.

My first experience with a dog that had eaten marijuana was as a student in vet school, when a couple brought in their two year old black Labrador, appropriately named Chewy. Chewy had glassy eyes and stumbled in to the exam room, where he promptly lay down and began panting heavily. When I questioned the owners to find out what was going on, they were nervous and evasive when I asked if he could have gotten in to something.  At one point during the exam, Chewy rose and began barking at the computer monitor in an agitated fashion, fell to one side, and lay down again.  His physical exam revealed dehydration, a rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils, difficulty walking (called ataxia), and he vomited when I palpated his abdomen.

As I recommended hospitalization and prepared to take Chewy back for testing, the man told me that while they had been on a hike, and Chewy had come running out of the woods with a baggie in his mouth.  Aha!  Now I had something to go on.  I kind of doubted the baggie in the woods story, but at least I got the information I needed to help Chewy.

These days, with decriminalization and legalization of medical marijuana in Colorado, hopefully conversations, or rather non-conversations like the one I had with these clients will be a thing of the past. The important thing to remember is to be completely honest with your veterinarian if you think your dog may have eaten marijuana. I’ve never met a vet that would turn someone over to the police for something like this; more likely the story might become an entertaining cocktail party conversation at some point, with names changed to protect the innocent of course.

THC is rapidly absorbed after dogs ingest marijuana, with symptoms usually beginning to develop within about 30-90 minutes after ingestion.  While it is possible to induce vomiting if you catch your dog in the act, inducing vomiting is useless after about an hour and should NEVER be done if your dog is already exhibiting symptoms. The reason for this is that marijuana can cause excitement or depression of the nervous system, and induction of vomiting can also excite the nervous system and exacerbate the problem rather than helping to alleviate it.   In one study that reviewed the cases of 431 dogs that had ingested cannabis, only 14 (6%) were asymptomatic (1).

Common signs seen in dogs that have eaten cannabis include tachycardia or bradycardia (rapid or slow heart rate), disorientation, ataxia (difficulty walking), depression, tremors, seizures, dilated pupils, hypersalivation, weakness, and hypothermia. About a third of dogs have vomiting or diarrhea.  The severity of these signs increases with the amount that has been consumed. Some of these signs may sound a little scary: they are.

So the main message here is that if you think your dog has eaten cannabis, call your veterinarian.

The good news is that death from marijuana intoxication is quite rare, and the lethal dose for dogs and cats is approximately 3g/kg. (2)  Not every dog will need treatment, but some definitely will.

Cats?

Yes, they are subject to the same type of intoxication as dogs, however, cats are much less likely to snack on marijuana.  My first and only feline patient treated for cannabis consumption (and apparently ate a large amount of it right out of a baggie) has shown no long term effects from his little party, but then again, he was weird to begin with.  Cats present a bit more concern than dogs when eating any kind of plant material. Because they are strict carnivores, cats lack the enzymes needed to digest many plant foods, so any plant snacking by cats, including house plants, can be cause for concern.

Edibles with chocolate

MMJ edibles containing chocolate present a different concern because chocolate itself is toxic to dogs. Chocolate contains methylxanthine alkyloids, primarily caffeine and theobromine, that can cause excitement of the nervous system and even seizures in dogs. Chocolate poisoning is one of the most common poisonings in dogs, and the nervous system excitement caused by chocolate plus the nervous system depression caused by marijuana can be a bad combination, especially in small dogs.

Calling your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian will want to know what the dog ate, how much he ate, and how long ago he ate it, as well as how much the dog weighs.  As I mentioned before, many people are reluctant to call the vet due to a concern about being judged, or in the case of potential illegal substance ingestion, concern about the police being involved. If you are worried about being judged, please find a new vet. Vets are, first and foremost, concerned about keeping your pet healthy, not about judging your lifestyle.  People have told me they are reluctant to call the vet because they think the vet will tell them to bring their pet in for an exam.  Yes, we will absolutely tell you to bring your pet in. Things are not always what they seem, pets cannot tell us what happened and how they feel, and a physical exam is the best way for us to evaluate your pet’s health.

The most important thing you can do is keep your medicine up and out of reach of the sensitive noses of curious four legged family members. But if it does happen, stay calm, gather as much information as you can, and seek help.

References:

1)       Sturgeon, K and Campbell, A. Dopey Dogs- A Review of Cannabis Exposures in Canines,  Clinical Toxicology, Vol 46, no 5 p 384, June 2008.

2)       Luiz JA and Heseltine J. Five Common Toxins Ingested by Dogs and Cats, Compendium, Vol 30 No 11, Nov. 2008.

copyright 2011 Lisa Cass DVM

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/latest/Livestock-producers-beware-Watch-for-toxic-blue-green-algae-126115753.html

Laser therapy for chronic pain.  This is a great new technology and is now available in our area too.

http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2011/07/21/warwick_advertiser/news/21.txt

Scientists working on a new drug to sterilize dogs without surgery.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/07/21/20110721dog-sterilize-drug-new.html

Cancer research in dogs benefits humans too

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/detail?entry_id=93398

Respiratory virus discovered that jumps from monkeys to humans

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110714/full/news.2011.416.html

Life Cycle of Heartworm

Historically, heartworm disease was not seen in Colorado or was very rare, due to the fact that we have a dry climate, cool temperatures, and a short mosquito season at higher altitudes.  I don’t know if climate change has been partially responsible for the emergence of heartworm disease in Colorado, but I do know that the increased travel of dogs from other areas of the country, especially the southeastern U.S., has contributed to its presence here.  The relocation of dogs after Hurricane Katrina is thought to have played a large part, with approximately 85% of dogs from the hurricane area being infected with heartworms.

In the past, most dogs I saw that were infected with this disease had a history of travel somewhere outside of Colorado, but unfortunately now I am seeing the disease in dogs that have never left Colorado, and in one case, a dog that has never left Boulder County.

The following is a map showing the incidence of heartworm disease across the U.S. Please note it is a map from 2007, but clearly shows heartworm disease in Colorado. I suspect that the map is much darker four years later.

Incidence of Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease can be diagnosed with a simple and inexpensive blood test.  This blood test should be done yearly unless dogs have been on heartworm preventative year round.  The blood test is positive if a protein found on the adult female worm is present.  It takes six months for worms to mature in to an adult once a dog is infected, so it is possible to have a negative test even if the dog has been infected. For this reason, the American Heartworm Society recommends yearly testing.

The preventative medication consists of a chewable treat that is given once monthly during mosquito season. In Colorado, I recommend dogs be given the preventative May through October.  If dogs travel outside of Colorado, especially to the southeastern United States or California, where mosquitos are present all year, they should be given preventative year round.

Fortunately heartworm disease can be inexpensively and safely prevented. For dogs infected with heartworms, the treatment is toxic, painful, and expensive.  It involves a series of injections of an arsenic-based drug, followed by 6-8 weeks of kennel rest.

I urge you to have your dog tested for heartworms and to consider starting heartworm preventative, even if you haven’t in the past. For more information, please visit the following website  http://www.heartwormsociety.org/

copyright 2011 Lisa Cass DVM

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture continues to investigate the spread of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in the state.

As of 5/23/2011, 12pm:
• 9 confirmed cases of horses with EHV-1
• Two horses, which tested positive for EHV-1, were euthanized after showing severe neurological signs associated with the disease.
• 22 suspect cases. Suspect cases are those horses that are believed to have been exposed to EHV-1 but confirmatory tests are still pending.
• 12 quarantine and hold orders have been issued in 8 counties (Bent, Boulder, Garfield, Gunnison, Larimer, Mesa, Morgan, & Weld)

BACKGROUND
Colorado State Fair Horse Shows Cancelled
Colorado State Fair organizers have voluntarily cancelled th ree equine events following the spread of EHV-1.
• Zamora Roping originally scheduled for May 20-22, 2011. Reschedule date pending.
• Mounted Shooting Regional originally scheduled May 27-30, 2011. Rescheduled for October 7-10, 2011
• Sagebrush Slide Cow Horse Show originally scheduled June 1-5, 2011. Rescheduled for August 10-14, 2011

“We decided to reschedule these events to limit the number of horses traveling to and from our fairgrounds,” said State Fair General Manager Chris Wiseman. “Our horse shows are important to the Fair and to Colorado as a whole and we want to be proactive in protecting our horse community.”

Facts about EHV-1 Vaccines
The common vaccines available for EHV-1 immunization do not protect against the neurological form of EHV-1 disease which is commonly called equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). These immunizations do protect against the respiratory and abortion forms of the disease.

The EHV -1 vaccines are thought to reduce the shedding of the virus and may decrease the amount of circulating virus in the system of infected horses. So vaccinations prior to infection may help reduce the severity of an outbreak.

In the face of an EHV-1 outbreak, the value of vaccinating EHV-1 affected horses or exposed horses is questionable and may be detrimental to the horse. When an EHV-1 outbreak occurs, it may be helpful to give an EHV-1 booster immunization in a previously vaccinated, unexposed horse.

Consult with your veterinarian to determine the best vaccination and treatment strategy for your horses in your particular situation.

New Travel Requirements for Horses Entering Colorado
Standard requirements for horses entering Colorado include a health certificate issued within 30 days of their arrival and a negative Coggins test within 12 months. The new requirement consists of a permit to enter the state. Horse owners who wish to bring their hor se into Colorado must first call their veterinarian. That veterinarian can then contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s State Veterinarian’s Office at (303) 239-4161 and request a permit number. That number would then be included on the health certificate.

Easter can be a time when lots of chocolate and candy are around the house. Be careful to put chocolate and candy well above the reach of pets, especially dogs. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, especially small dogs who eat large amounts. If you find your pup has dug into the easter baskets, call your vet. It’s helpful to tell the vet what the dog has eaten: what kind of chocolate (milk, dark, baker’s) and how much.

The other type of candy that can be hazardous is anything containing the sweetener xylitol.  Xylitol is found in  sugarless gums and lollipops.  This causes a massive insulin release which leads to dangerously low blood sugar.  This is an emergency and needs to be treated right away. If you find your dog has eaten candy or gum containing xylitol, load up and get to the vet quickly- in this situation it’s best to head to the hospital and call when you’re on your way.

Cats are less likely than dogs to eat candy but are not immune to dipping into the Easter baskets. The plastic “grass” for decorations can be great fun for cats to play with but very dangerous if swallowed because it can cause an intestinal blockage. For homes with cats, it’s best to use paper Easter grass instead of plastic. Although it can still cause a problem, it’s more likely to be digested if swallowed.

Most pets love a little bit of hard boiled egg. If you’re wondering what to do with all the extra eggs, give a little bit to your cat or dog with their regular meal or for a special treat.  Eggs contain a lot of protein and are an especially good dietary supplement for older pets who are losing their muscle tone.

Wishing a fun and and safe holiday to all!

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP8ab4910b7d5642a0995fb1dad64e0b79.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Wellness canned cat food- voluntary recall

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/letter.aspx